Are recreational team sports actually good for society? Those listening to the proceedings of the Oireachtas Committee on Sport this week might be forgiven for asking the question. The assumption is that the obvious benefits of physical exercise are enhanced by a team context, which encourages co-operation and dedication to a collective goal.
It was accordingly all the more alarming to hear testimony about the abuse and menacing of match officials from three major sports organisations. Soccer received the greatest prominence but it was acknowledged that Gaelic games and rugby also have serious issues. All three organisations, the FAI, GAA and IRFU referenced the role of social media in exacerbating the difficulties experienced by referees.
How this at times default disrespect works out at matches the length and breadth of the country is shocking. Seán Slattery, of the Irish Soccer Referees Society, detailed how his members had been physically attacked and threatened in car parks. The scale of the abuse is reflected in the refusal of these volunteers to remain involved. Two-thirds of soccer referees have walked away in the past two years.
The unacceptable treatment of these officials is creating a crisis of recruitment and not just in soccer. In the past few days two of the GAA’s leading counties, Kerry and Cork, have expressed concerns in the annual reports of their respective CEOs. The former warned that fixtures may not be able to go ahead in future because of a shortage of referees and the latter declaring the situation as a “clear crisis”. It is also clear that sports organisations can do more in terms of respecting refereeing decisions and not caving in to often vexatious challenges, and also treating any disrespect of officials by others with the utmost severity.
Team sports encourage the aspiration of achievement within the parameters of rules and regulations, which are the same for all. Key to this is the acceptance that a neutral arbiter will apply these rules. Without referees and match officials there are no games.